Electronic device and receiving system

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a device main unit; and a controller that displays on a display visual demonstration of an energy setting of the device main unit, wherein the controller displays, before receiving an operation that enables the energy setting, a state of the device main unit in which the energy setting is enabled.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/863,790, filed on Apr. 16, 2013, which claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-138148, filed on Jun.19, 2012. The contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/863,790are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates generally to an electronic device andreceiving system, and, in particular, relates to an electronic deviceand receiving system wherein an energy conservation setup can beimplemented.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, electronic devices have been known wherein energyconservation setups can be implemented (e.g., Patent Document 1).

This Patent Document 1 discloses a compound electronic device(electronic device) provided with a device main unit and a control unitwherein information is displayed in text regarding drawbacks whenrunning in an electricity-saving mode, when receiving, from a user, anoperation pertaining to setting up an electricity saving mode (energyconservation) in the device main unit.

PATENT DOCUMENT

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication 2006-254185

However, it is difficult for the user to envision the state when theelectricity-saving mode is selected, through simply displaying in textthe drawbacks when running in the electricity-saving mode, as in thecompound electronic device of the aforementioned Patent Document 1, andthere may be cases wherein the user is unable to understand the stateafter the electricity-saving mode is setup. In such a case, theelectricity-saving mode may be setup without the user having anunderstanding of the state after the electricity-saving mode is setup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an electronicdevice and receiving system wherein the user is able to implement anenergy conservation setup after understanding the state after the energyconservation setup.

An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention isprovided with a device main unit and a control unit for performingcontrol that causes a demonstration wherein the state wherein the energyconservation set up is implemented is displayed on a displaying portionin a form that can be understood visually when an operation pertainingto an energy conservation set up for the device main unit portion isreceived from a user.

In the electronic device according to one or more embodiments, theprovision of the control unit for performing control so as to cause ademonstration, in a form that can be understood visually, so as todisplay, on a display unit, the state wherein the energy conservationsetup is implemented when an operation pertaining to an energyconservation setup for the device main unit is received from a usermakes it possible to envision easily, through the demonstration, thestate wherein the energy conservation setup is implemented, thus makingit possible for the user to understand the energy conservation setup.This enables the user to perform the energy conservation setup afterunderstanding the state after the energy conservation setup.

In the electronic device according to one or more embodiments, thecontrol unit is configured so as to perform an inquiry to the user as towhether or not to implement the energy conservation setup, after havingdisplayed on the displaying portion, through a demonstration, the statewherein the energy conservation setup is executed. Such a configurationenables the user to respond to the inquiry as to whether or not toimplement the energy conservation setup after understanding visually,through the demonstration, the state wherein the energy conservationsetup is implemented.

In the electronic device according to one or more embodiments, theenergy conservation setup energy conservation settings are possible fora plurality of items, and the control unit is configured so as toperform control to cause a demonstration, in a form that can beunderstood visually, of the state wherein the energy conservationsettings are executed for each individual item of the plurality ofitems. Such a configuration enables the user to perform the energyconservation setup for each of the individual items after understandingthe individual items.

In one or more embodiments, the displaying portion includes an externaldisplaying portion that is connected to the device main unit or adisplaying portion that is provided in the device main unit, an EnergyConservation Setup Menu screen that includes all of the plurality ofitems is displayed on the displaying portion, and the control unit isconfigured so as to perform control so as to display on the displayingportion, through a demonstration, the state wherein the energyconservation setting for an item selected from among the plurality ofitems displayed on the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen isimplemented. Such a configuration enables selection of a desired itemfrom the plurality of items that are displayed as a group on theexternal displaying portion that is connected to the device main unit oron the displaying portion that is provided in the device main unit, thusenabling an improvement in the operability when performing the energyconservation setup. Moreover, this enables the display of ademonstration, on the external displaying portion that is connected tothe device main unit or on the displaying portion that is provided inthe device main unit, of the state wherein the energy conservation setupis implemented, thus enabling the user to easily understand visually theenergy conservation setup.

In one or more embodiments, in a configuration wherein the displayingportion is configured to include an external displaying portion that isconnected to the device main unit or a displaying portion that isprovided in the device main unit, the control unit is configured so asto perform control so as to display, on the displaying portion,information regarding the electric power that is saved when the energyconservation setting is implemented for each of the plurality of itemswhen the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen that includes all of theplurality of items is displayed on the displaying portion. Such aconfiguration enables the electricity-saving effect to be increasedeasily through selecting the items with a large savings in electricpower while comparing the plurality of items on the Energy ConservationSetup Menu screen.

In one or more embodiments, in a configuration wherein the displayingportion is configured to include an external displaying portion that isconnected to the device main unit or a displaying portion that isprovided in the device main unit, a remote control that includes anEnergy Conservation Setup Menu button for switching to the EnergyConservation Setup Menu Screen is further provided, where the devicemain unit includes a remote control sensor able to receive a remotecontrol signal, and the control unit is configured so as to performcontrol so as to switch the screen that is displayed on the displayingportion to the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen when the remotecontrol sensor has received a signal when the Energy Conservation SetupMenu button is pressed by the user. Such a configuration enablesdisplaying of the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen on thedisplaying portion by merely pressing the Energy Conservation Setup Menubutton on the remote control, enabling an improvement in the operability(convenience) when performing the energy conservation setup.

In an electronic device according to one or more embodiments, thecontrol unit is configured so as to perform control so as to displayinformation regarding the electric power saved and the electric powercosts that will be saved when the energy conservation setup isimplemented when displaying, through a demonstration on the displayingportion, the state wherein the energy conservation setup is implemented.Such a configuration enables easy understanding of information regardingthe electric power saved and the electric power costs that will be savedthe energy conservation setup is implemented while confirming, throughthe demonstration, the state wherein the energy conservation setup hasbeen implemented.

In the electronic device according to one or more embodiments, anexternal displaying portion is connected to the device main unit, thedevice main unit includes an information displaying portion able todisplay information of the device main unit, and the control unit isconfigured so as to perform control so as to demonstrate, in a form thatcan be understood visually, the state wherein the energy conservationsetup has been implemented, using the information displaying portion,while displaying a setup screen for the energy conservation setup of theinformation displaying portion on the external displaying portion. Insuch a configuration, a demonstration of after the energy conservationsetup has been implemented using the information displaying portionitself when performing the energy conservation setup of the informationdisplaying portion, thus enabling the user to envision more easily thestate wherein the energy conservation setup has been implemented, and,consequently, enabling the user to understand easily the state after theenergy conservation setup as well.

A receiving system according to a second aspect of the present inventionis provided with a receiving device that includes a receiving portionfor receiving a broadcast signal, a receiving device main unit, and acontrol unit, and provided with an external display device connected tothe receiving portion, where the control unit is configured so as toperform control so as to demonstrate, in a form that can be understoodvisually, the state wherein an energy conservation setup is implemented,through displaying on the external display device or through causing thereceiving device to operate, when an operation pertaining to an energyconservation setup of the receiving device main unit is received from auser.

In the receiving system according to one or more embodiments, theprovision of the control unit for performing control so as todemonstrate, in a form that can be understood visually, the statewherein the energy conservation setup has been implemented, throughdisplaying on the external display device or through causing thereceiving device to operate, when an operation pertaining to an energyconservation setup of the receiving device main unit is received from auser, enables the state wherein the energy conservation setup has beenimplemented to be envisioned easily through the demonstration, thusenabling the user to understand the energy conservation setup.Consequently, this enables the energy conservation setup to be performedby the user based on an understanding regarding the state after theenergy conservation setup. Moreover, this enables the demonstration ofthe state wherein the energy conservation setup has been implemented tobe either performed by displaying on the external display device orperformed on the receiving device, thus enabling the user to understandthe energy conservation setup easily.

One or more embodiments of the present invention enable the user toperform the energy conservation setup based on an understandingregarding the state after the energy conservation setup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a receivingsystem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a remote control of a BD recorder in areceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a Menu screen of a receiving systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an Energy Conservation Setup Menuscreen of a receiving system according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a state whereinthe LCD energy conservation setting of the BD recorder is ON in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state wherein the LCD energyconservation setting of the BD recorder is ON in the receiving systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a state whereinthe LCD energy conservation setting of the BD recorder is OFF in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a demonstration in a state wherein theLCD energy conservation setting of the BD recorder is OFF in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a query regarding whether or not toimplement an LCD energy conservation setting of the BD recorder in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a statewherein the antenna-through output setting of the energy conservationsetting of the BD recorder is ON in the receiving system according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a demonstration, displayed on the displayingportion, of a state wherein the antenna-through output setting of theenergy conservation setting of the BD recorder is OFF in the receivingsystem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a query regarding whether or not toimplement an antenna-through output setting of the energy conservationsetting of the BD recorder in the receiving system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a statewherein the antenna-through output setting of the energy conservationsetting of the BD recorder is ON in the receiving system according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a demonstration, displayed on the displayingportion, in a state wherein the antenna-through output setting of theenergy conservation setting of the BD recorder is OFF in the receivingsystem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a query regarding whether or not toimplement an attenuator power setting of the BD recorder in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a statewherein the quick start setting of the energy conservation setting ofthe BD recorder is ON in the receiving system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a statewherein the demonstration has been started with the quick start settingof the energy conservation setting of the BD recorder OFF in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a displaying portion in a statewherein the demonstration has been completed with the quick startsetting of the energy conservation setting of the BD recorder OFF in thereceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a query regarding whether or not toimplement a quick start setting of the energy conservation setting ofthe BD recorder in the receiving system according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining the demonstration procedure in areceiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A configuration of a receiving system 100 according to embodiments ofthe present invention will be explained below in reference to FIG. 1through FIG. 19.

The receiving system 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided with aBD (Blu-ray disc) recorder 1 and a TV (television) device 2. The BDrecorder 1 is provided with a BD recorder main unit 1 a and a remotecontrol 3. Note that the BD recorder 1 is one example of the “electronicdevice” and the “receiving device” in the present disclosure. Moreover,the BD recorder main unit 1 a is one example of the “device main unit”and the “receiving device main unit” of the present disclosure.Furthermore, the TV device 2 is one example of an “external displaydevice” according to the present disclosure.

The BD recorder main unit 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided witha tuner 11, an attenuator 12 for attenuating the TV broadcast radiosignal to an appropriate level, an HDD 13, and an optical disc drive 14.Moreover, the BD recorder main unit 1 is provided with a memory 15, anLCD 16, a remote control sensor 17, an outputting portion 18, and acontrol unit 19. Note that the tuner 11 is an example of a “receivingportion” according to the present disclosure. Moreover, the LCD 16 isone example of an “information displaying portion” according to thepresent disclosure.

Furthermore, the BD recorder 1 has three power modes: a power ON mode, apower OFF mode, and an energy conservation mode. The power ON mode is amode for a state wherein power is supplied to the BD recorder 1 in anormal state. The power OFF mode is a mode for a state wherein the mainpower is turned OFF, and no power whatsoever is supplied to the BDrecorder 1. Moreover, the energy conservation mode is a mode where aportion of the functions of the BD recorder 1 are limited, to reduce thepower supplied within the BD recorder main unit 1 a to less than that ofthe power ON mode. Note that the BD recorder 1 is configured so as toshift to the energy conservation mode through pressing the Power button31 of the remote control 3.

The BD recorder 1 has a quick start setup function that can switch fromthe energy conservation mode to the power ON mode rapidly. When thequick start setting is set to ON, then the power that is required toperform the quick start is supplied to the electronic compliments suchas the tuner 11 and the attenuator 12 of the BD recorder.

The tuner 11 is configured so as to receive a TV broadcast through anantenna 41. The tuner 11 is connected to the TV device 2 through acable. Moreover, the tuner 11 has an antenna-through output function toenable viewing, on the TV device 2, of a TV broadcast received by thetuner 11 when the BD recorder 1 is switched into the energy conservationmode.

The attenuator 12 is configured so as to be able to attenuate the TVbroadcast radio signal to an appropriate level to enable crisp viewingof video from a TV broadcast.

The HDD 13 is configured to enable recording of a TV broadcast receivedthrough the tuner 11. Moreover, the optical disc drive 14 is configuredto enable reading of data from the BD. Furthermore, the optical discdrive 14 is configured to enable writing of data to the BD.

The memory 15 is a rewritable non-volatile memory. The memory 15 isconfigured so as to store various types of information used by the BDrecorder main unit 1 a.

The LCD 16 is configured to enable display of information from the BDrecorder main unit 1 a. Information pertaining to playback and recordingof the BD recorder 1, the current time, and the like, are displayed onthe LCD 16 (FIG. 6).

The remote control sensor 17 is configured so as to be able to receivethe signal of the remote control 3. The remote control sensor 17 isconfigured so as to forward information regarding the signals receivedto the control unit 19.

The outputting portion 18 is configured so as to forward, to the TVdevice 2, information regarding the video that is played back by the BDrecorder main unit 1 a.

The control unit 19 is configured so as to control the overall operationof the BD recorder 1. The control unit 19 will be explained in detailbelow.

The TV device 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided with a TV devicemain unit 2 a and a displaying portion 21 (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). Thedisplaying portion 21 is configured so as to be able to display video ofa TV broadcast that is received by the tuner 11 of the BD recorder 1,information pertaining to the settings of the BD recorder 1, and soforth.

Here, in the present embodiment, the remote control 3 is provided with aPower button 31, a + button 32, and an Okay button 33. Moreover, theremote control 3 is provided with a Menu Screen button 34, an EnergyConservation Setup Menu button 35, and a Back button 36.

The Power button 31 has the function of a command for sending, from theremote control 3 to the TV device 2, a signal for switching the BDrecorder 1 to the power ON mode or the energy conservation mode. The +button 32 includes an Up button 321, a Left button 322, a Right button323, and a Down button 324. The + button 32 is used when selecting adesired item from the displaying portion 21 of the TV device 2. The Okaybutton 33 has a function for locking in an item that has been selected.

The Menu Screen button 34 has a function for switching the screen thatis displayed on the displaying portion 21 of the TV device 2 to a Menuscreen 211 (FIG. 3). The Energy Conservation Setup Menu button 35 has afunction for switching the screen that is displayed on the displayingportion 21 of the TV device 2 to the Energy Conservation Setup Menuscreen 212 (FIG. 4). The Back button 36 has a function for switching thescreen that is displayed on the displaying portion 21 to the viewingscreen (the screen that displays the broadcast signal that is received).

The configuration of the control unit 19 in the BD recorder 1 of thereceiving system 100 according to one embodiment according to thepresent invention will be explained in detail next in reference to FIG.3 and FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit 19 is configured so as toperform control so as to display the Menu screen 211 on the displayingportion 21 of the TV device 2. Moreover, the control unit 19 isconfigured so as to perform control so as to switch to the EnergyConservation Setup Menu screen 212 when the Energy Conservation SetupMenu item is selected in the Menu screen 211. Furthermore, the controlunit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as to switch to theEnergy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212 when the Energy ConservationSetup Menu button 35 (FIG. 2) is pressed when any given screen (such asthe viewing screen) is displayed on the displaying portion 21. That is,the control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as toswitch to the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212 when the remotecontrol sensor 17 has received a signal that the Energy ConservationSetup Menu button 35 has been pressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 19 is configured so as toperform control so as to display on the displaying portion 21 an EnergyConservation Setup Menu screen 212 that groups together a plurality ofsetting items pertaining to energy conservation settings. Specifically,the control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as todisplay, together as a group, in the Energy Conservation Setup Menuscreen 212, the current states of the energy conservation settings forthe respective individual setting items 511 through 515 included in theplurality of setting items, together with information pertaining to theamounts of electricity consumption that would be saved when the energyconservation settings are OFF, and the amounts of electricity costs thatwould be saved when the energy conservation settings are OFF. Note thatthe individual items 511 through 515 are, respectively, the BD recorderLCD setting, the antenna-through output setting, the attenuator powersetting, the quick start setting, and the optical disc operationsetting. Moreover, the energy conservation settings can be performedindividually for the respective functions corresponding to theindividual items 511 through 515.

Specifically, when the energy conservation setting is ON for the BDrecorder LCD setting, the display function for the BD recorder LCD isenabled. Furthermore, when the energy conservation setting is OFF forthe BD recorder LCD setting, the BD recorder LCD display function isdisabled. Moreover, for the antenna-through output setting, when theenergy conservation setting is ON the antenna-through output function isenabled. When, for the antenna-through output setting, the energyconservation setting is OFF, the antenna-through output function isdisabled. Moreover, for the attenuator power setting, when the energyconservation setting is ON, the attenuator power function is enabled.When, for the attenuator power setting, the energy conservation settingis OFF, the attenuator power function is disabled. Furthermore, when,for the quick start setting, the energy conservation setting is ON, thequick start function is enabled. When, for the quick start setting theenergy conservation setting is OFF, the quick start function isdisabled. Furthermore, when, for the optical disc operation setting, theenergy conservation setting is ON, the optical disc operation functionis enabled. When, for the optical disc operation setting, the energyconservation setting is OFF, the optical disc operation function isdisabled.

Furthermore, the control unit 19 is configured so as to perform theenergy conservation setup (energy setup) for the plurality of items thatare displayed as a group. Moreover, the control unit 19 is configured soas to set the energy conservation settings (energy settings)individually for each of the individual items 511 through 515 that areselected from the plurality of items that are displayed as a group. Thecontrol unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as to display,on the displaying portion 21, information regarding the electric powerthat would be saved when the individual energy conservation settings, ofthe plurality of items, are implemented when the Energy ConservationSetup Menu screen 212, which includes a plurality of items as a group,is displayed on the displaying portion 21.

The control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as todemonstrate, in a form that can be understood visually, the statewherein the energy conservation setup has been implemented, whenperforming the energy conservation setup for the BD recorder main unit 1a. The control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as todemonstrate, in a state that can be understood visually, the stateswherein the energy conservation settings for the individual items 511through 515, of the plurality of items, have been implementedindividually. The demonstration is executed either through implementing,on the recorder main unit 1 a itself, the state wherein the energyconservation setup is implemented, or through displaying, on thedisplaying portion 21, a video (for example, in the form of a movie) ofthe BD recorder main unit 1 a in a state wherein the energy conservationsetting is implemented.

For example, if performing the energy conservation setup for the LCD 16of the BD recorder 1, then, as illustrated in FIG. 5 through FIG. 8, thecontrol unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as todemonstrate, in a form that can be understood visually, the statewherein an energy conservation setup is implemented using the LCD 16,while displaying the setup screen for the energy conservation settingsfor the LCD 16 on the displaying portion 21 of the TV device 2.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 19 displays, onthe displaying portion 21, a setup screen for the energy conservationsetting wherein the energy conservation setting for the LCD 16 of the BDrecorder 1 is ON. In this case, the control unit 19, as illustrated inFIG. 6, places the LCD 16 in the state wherein the energy conservationsetting for the LCD setup is ON. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 7, thecontrol unit 19 displays, on the displaying portion 21, a setup screenfor the energy conservation setting wherein the energy conservationsetting of the LCD 16 of the BD recorder 1 is OFF if the user hasswitched the energy conservation setting for the LCD 16 of the BDrecorder 1 from ON to OFF by operating the remote control 3. In thiscase, the control unit 19 performs a demonstration, as illustrated inFIG. 8, with the LCD 16 in the state wherein the energy conservationsetting of the LCD 16 of the BD recorder 1 has been set to OFF.

Moreover, in the case of the energy conservation setup for theantenna-through output, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 19displays on the displaying portion 21 the state wherein the energyconservation setting for the antenna-through output has been turned ON.The control unit 19, as illustrated in FIG. 11, performs a demonstrationin a form that displays on the displaying portion 21 the state whereinthe energy conservation setting for the antenna-through output has beenturned OFF when the energy conservation setting for the antenna-throughoutput has been switched from ON to OFF by the user operating the remotecontrol 3. In this case, a demonstration is displayed on the displayingportion 21 for a case wherein the video of the television broadcastcannot be viewed because the antenna-through output function iscurtailed. Specifically, when the energy conservation setting for theantenna-through output is ON, the video of the TV broadcast that isdisplayed on the displaying portion 21 ceases to be shown on thedisplaying portion 21 through the energy conservation setting for theantenna-through output being is set to OFF.

Furthermore, when performing the setup for the attenuator power, asillustrated in FIG. 13, the control unit 19 displays on the displayingportion 21 the state wherein the setting for the attenuator power is ON(the energy conservation setting is ON). The control unit 19 performs ademonstration, as illustrated in FIG. 14, on the displaying portion 21in a form wherein the state wherein the setting for the attenuator powerhas been turned OFF (the energy conservation setting is OFF) when thesetting for the attenuator power has been switched from ON to OFF by theuser operating the remote control 3. In this case, a demonstration isdisplayed on the displaying portion 21 of a state wherein the video fromthe TV broadcast is not clear due to curtailing of the function of theattenuator 12. Specifically, the video of the TV broadcast that isdisplayed in clear focus when the setting for the attenuator power is ONis displayed in a state wherein the focus is not sharp due to thesetting of the attenuator power being set to OFF. Furthermore, asillustrated in FIG. 13 through FIG. 15, the electric field strengths forthe selected attenuator power settings are displayed on the displayingportion 21.

Moreover, when performing the energy conservation setup for the quickstart, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the control unit 19 displays on thedisplaying portion 21 the state wherein the energy conservation settingfor the quick start is turned ON and the state wherein the energyconservation setting for the quick start is turned OFF. As illustratedin FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the control unit 19 performs a demonstration ina form that is displayed on the displaying portion 21, in the form of amovie, of the state wherein the setting that causes the quick start tobe performed is switched to a setting wherein the quick start is notperformed, when the energy conservation setting for the quick start isswitched from ON to OFF by the user operating the remote control 3. Asillustrated in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the state wherein the energyconservation setting for the quick start is turned OFF (when the quickstart is not performed) is displayed on the right side of the displayingportion 21, and the state wherein the energy conservation setting forthe quick start is turned ON (when the quick start is performed) isdisplayed on the left side of the displaying portion 21. Specifically, acomparison between a video of the operation of the BD recorder main unit1 a when the energy conservation setting for the quick start is ON and avideo of the operation of the BD recorder main unit 1 a when the energyconservation setting for the quick start is OFF is displayed.

Moreover, the configuration is such that control is performed so as todemonstrate, in a form that can be understood visually, the statewherein the energy conservation setting is implemented when performingthe energy conservation setup for the optical disc operation settings.

Moreover, the control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control soas to display electric power consumption that would be saved, andinformation on the cost of electric power that would be saved, whendisplaying, on the displaying portion 21, the demonstration of the statewherein the energy conservation setup is implemented.

The control unit 19, as illustrated in FIG. 9, FIG. 12, FIG. 15, andFIG. 19, is structured so as to query the user as to whether or not toimplement the energy setup after displaying on the displaying portion21, through a demonstration, the state wherein the energy conservationsetup has been implemented.

The demonstration procedures that are executed by the control unit 19 inthe BD recorder 1 in the receiving system 100 according to the presentembodiment will be explained next in reference to FIG. 20. Note that thedemonstration procedures are started through the selection of the EnergyConservation Setup menu in the Menu screen 211 or through the EnergyConservation Setup Menu button 35 on the remote control 3 being pressedby a user.

First, in Step S1, the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212 isdisplayed. Following this, in Step S2, whether or not a specific itemhas been selected from the Energy Conservation Setup menu is evaluated.Specifically, whether or not an item has been selected by the user fromamong the items 511 through 515 (FIG. 4) is evaluated.

If, in Step S2, no specific item has been selected, then processingadvances to step S3, returning to the viewing screen. Specifically, ifthe Back button 36 of the remote control 3 has been pressed by the user,processing returns to the viewing screen. Thereafter, the demonstrationprocedure flow is terminated. If, in Step S2, a specific item has beenselected, then processing advances to Step S4.

In Step S4, the demonstration for the item that has been selected isstarted. If, for example, the antenna-through output setting (item 511)was selected, then, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a screen of the statewherein the energy conservation setting for the antenna-through outputis ON is displayed on the displaying portion 21. Following this, asillustrated in FIG. 11, if the user sets the energy conservation settingfor the antenna-through output to OFF, then a demonstration is performedin a form wherein a screen of the state wherein the energy conservationsetting for the antenna-through output has been turned OFF is displayedon the displaying portion 21. Moreover, if, in Step S2, rather than theantenna-through output setting, the LCD setting, the attenuator powersetting, the quick start setting, or the optical disc operation settingof the BD recorder 1 was selected, a similar procedure would beperformed in Step S4.

Following this, in Step S5, a query as to whether or not to implementthe energy conservation setting for the selected item is performed. Forexample, in the case wherein the attenuator-through output setting (item512) was selected in Step S2, then, after the display of the screen ofthe state wherein the energy conservation setting for theattenuator-through output has been set to OFF, then, as illustrated inFIG. 12, a query is performed as to whether or not to implement theenergy conservation setup wherein the energy conservation setting forthe antenna-through output is set to OFF. Moreover, if, in Step S2,there was a selection for the LCD setting (item 511), the attenuatorpower setting (item 513), the quick start setting (item 514), or theoptical disc setting (item 515) of the BD recorder 1, then, afterdisplaying a screen of the state wherein the energy conservation settingcorresponding to the selected item has been turned OFF (FIG. 9, FIG. 15,and FIG. 19), a query is performed as to whether or not to implement theenergy conservation setting.

Following this, processing advances to step S6, and an evaluation isperformed as to whether or not “Okay” has been selected. If “Okay” hasnot been selected in Step S6, then processing advances to step S1. If“Okay” has been selected in Step S6, then processing advances to StepS7, and the selected energy conservation setting is implemented. Theflow of the demonstration procedure is then terminated.

In the present embodiment, as described above, a control unit 19 isprovided for performing control so as to demonstrate, in a form that canbe understood visually, a state wherein an energy conservation setup hasbeen implemented, through either displaying on the displaying portion 21or through operating the BD recorder 1, when an operation pertaining tothe energy conservation setup of the BD recorder main unit 1 a has beenreceived from a user. Doing so makes it possible to envision easily,through the demonstration, the state wherein the energy conservationsetup has been implemented, thus making it possible for the user tounderstand the energy conservation setup, making it possible to performthe energy conservation setup after understanding the state after theenergy conservation setup. As a result, it is possible to preventproblems or misunderstandings of the BD recorder main unit 1 a wherein adeleterious effect would appear in the BD recorder of the main unit 1 adue to the energy conservation setup. Moreover, because a demonstrationof the state wherein the energy conservation setup has been implementedis either displayed on the TV device 2 or performed in the BD recorder1, the user is able to understand the energy conservation settingseasily.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 19 is configured so as toquery the user as to whether or not to implement the energy conservationsetup after the state wherein the energy conservation setup has beenimplemented has been displayed on the displaying portion 21 through ademonstration. This enables the user to respond to the query as towhether or not to implement the energy conservation setup afterconfirming visually, through the demonstration, the state wherein theenergy conservation setup has been implemented.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 19 is configured so as toperform control so as to demonstrate, in a form that can be understoodvisually, the states wherein energy conservation settings have beenimplemented individually for the individual items 511 through 515 of theplurality of items, which are functions wherein energy conservationsettings can be set for a plurality of items in the energy conservationsetup. Doing so enables the user to perform the energy conservationsettings for each of the individual items based on an understanding ofthe individual items.

As described above, in the present embodiment an external displayingportion 21 is provided connected to the BD recorder main unit 1 a, andthe control unit 19 is configured so as to display, on the displayingportion 21, an Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212 that includes,as a group, a plurality of items, and so as to perform control so as todisplay on the displaying portion 21, through demonstrations, the stateswherein the energy conservation settings for items selected from theplurality of items displayed in the Energy Conservation Setup Menuscreen 212 have been implemented. Doing so enables the selection ofdesired items from the plurality of items that are displayed as a groupon the external displaying portion 21 that is connected to the BDrecorder main unit 1 a, thus enabling improved operability whenperforming the energy conservation setup. Moreover, this enables thedisplay of a demonstration, on the external displaying portion 21 thatis connected to the BD recorder main unit 1 a, of the state wherein theenergy conservation setup has been implemented, thus enabling the userto easily understand visually the energy conservation setup.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the control unit 19 isconfigured so as to perform control so as to display on the displayingportion 21 information regarding the amount of electric powerconsumption that would be saved when the individual energy conservationsettings for the respective items are implemented when displaying on thedisplaying portion 21 the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212 thatincludes the plurality of items as a group. Doing so enables the effectof saving power to be increased easily through selecting the itemswherein the amount of electric power consumption that would be saved islarge while comparing the plurality of items using the EnergyConservation Setup Menu screen 212.

In the present embodiment, as described above, a remote control 3 isconfigured so as to provide an Energy Conservation Setup Menu button 35for switching to the Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212, the BDrecorder main unit 1 a is configured so as to provide a remote controlsensor 17 that is able to receive a signal from the remote control 3,and the control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control so as toswitch the screen that is displayed on the displaying portion to theEnergy Conservation Setup Menu screen 212 when the remote control sensor17 receives a signal when the Energy Conservation Setup Menu button 35has been pressed by a user. Doing so enables the Energy ConservationSetup Menu screen 212 to be displayed on the displaying portion throughmerely the Energy Conservation Setup Menu button 35 of the remotecontrol 3 having been pressed, thus enabling an increase in operability(convenience) when performing the energy conservation setup.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the control unit 19 isconfigured so as to perform control so as to display information on theelectric power consumption that would be saved, and the cost of electricpower that would be saved, when an energy conservation setup has beenimplemented when displaying on the displaying portion 21, through ademonstration, the state wherein an energy conservation setup has beenimplemented. Doing so enables information pertaining to the amount ofelectric power consumption that would be saved, and the cost of electricpower that would be saved, when an energy conservation setup isimplemented to be understood easily while confirming, through ademonstration, the state wherein the energy conservation setup has beenimplemented.

In the present embodiment, as described above, an external displayingportion 21 is connected to the BD recorder main unit 1 a, the BDrecorder main unit 1 a is configured so as to be provided with an LCD 16that is able to display information regarding the BD recorder main unit1 a, and the control unit 19 is configured so as to perform control soas to demonstrate, in a form that can be understood visually, the statewherein an energy conservation setup has been implemented, using the LCD16, while displaying a setup screen for the energy conservation setup ofthe LCD 16 on the external displaying portion 21. This provides ademonstration of after the energy conservation setup, using the LCD 16itself, when performing an energy conservation setup of the LCD 16, thusenabling the user to envision easily the state of the energyconservation setup, resulting in the ability to understand even moreeasily the state after the energy conservation setup.

Note that the embodiment disclosed in this disclosure should beconsidered in all points to be illustrative, rather than constraining.The scope of the present invention is indicated by the Scope of PatentClaims, rather than by the explanations of the embodiment set forthabove, and includes all meanings that are equivalent to the Scope ofPatent Claims and all modifications or alterations within said Scope.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was illustrated inapplication to a BD recorder as one example of an electronic device andreceiving device according to the present invention, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the presentinvention may be applied to electronic devices other than BD recorders.For example, the present invention may be applied to electronic devicessuch as TV devices and STBs (set-top boxes), and so forth.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereinenergy conservation settings were implemented individually forindividual items 511 through 515 of a plurality of items, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, theimplementation of the energy conservation settings may be as a group forthe individual items 511 through 515.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereina demonstration was performed in a form that can be understood visuallyfor a state wherein the energy conservation setup was implemented in acase wherein an energy conservation setup was performed for a BDrecorder main unit 1 a as a device main unit in the present invention,the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention,the demonstration may be performed for a state wherein the energyconservation setup is implemented, in a form that can be understoodaudibly, in addition to being in a form that can be understood visually.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereinan Energy Conservation Display Menu screen was displayed on a TV deviceas an external displaying portion in the present invention, connected tothe BD recorder, as the device main unit in the present invention, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. Rather, in the presentinvention the Energy Conservation Display Menu screen may be displayedon a displaying portion that is included within the equipment main unitportion.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereinboth the electric energy consumption that would be saved and informationon the cost of the electricity that would be saved were displayed whenthe Energy Conservation Setup Menu screen was displayed on thedisplaying portion, the present invention is not limited thereto. In thepresent invention, instead only one of these, that is, the electricpower consumption that would be saved or information on cost of theelectricity that would be saved may be displayed when the EnergyConservation Setup Menu screen is displayed on the displaying portion.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereinboth the electric power consumption that would be saved and informationon the cost of the electricity that would be saved were displayed whendisplaying on the displaying portion, through a demonstration, the statewherein the energy conservation setup has been implemented, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. Instead, in the present invention,only one, that is, the electric power consumption that would be saved orinformation on the cost of the electricity that would be saved, may bedisplayed when displaying on the displaying portion, through ademonstration, the state wherein the energy conservation setup has beenimplemented.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereinthe state wherein an energy conservation setup has been implementedusing an LCD was demonstrated while displaying a setup screen for theenergy conservation settings for the LCD as an information displayingportion of the present invention on an external displaying portion, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, thestate wherein the energy conservation setup for the informationdisplaying portion has been implemented may be displayed, in a form thatcan be understood visually and the setup screen for the energyconservation setup for the information displaying portion may bedisplayed as well, on the external displaying portion.

While in the embodiment set forth above an example was presented whereinenergy conservation settings were implemented for an LCD (informationdisplaying portion), an antenna-through output, an attenuator powersupply, a quick start, and an optical disc operation of a BD recorder(an electronic device and receiving device), the present invention isnot limited thereto. In the present invention, energy conservationsettings may be implemented for other than that which is listed above.

While in the embodiment set forth above, for convenience in explanation,the explanation used a flow chart wherein the start of the procedureoperations in the control unit was written as being event-driven and theprocedure operations after the start were written as being flow-driven,the present invention is not limited thereto. The procedure operationsin the control unit may be performed entirely in an event-driven form,may be performed entirely in a flow-driven form, or may be performed asparallel procedures.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1: BD Recorder (Electronic Device, Receiving Device)-   1 a: BD Recorder Main Unit (Device main unit, Receiving Device main    unit)-   2: TV Device (External Display Device)-   3: Remote Control-   11: Tuner (Receiving Portion)-   16: LCD (Information Displaying Portion)-   17: Remote Control Sensor-   18: Outputting Portion-   19: Control Unit-   21: Displaying Portion (External Displaying Portion)-   35: Energy Conservation Setup Menu Button-   100: Receiving System-   212: Energy Conservation Setup Menu Screen-   511, 512, 513, 514, 515: Items

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a device mainunit; and a controller that displays on a display visual demonstrationof an energy setting of the device main unit, wherein the controllerdisplays, before receiving an operation that enables the energy setting,a state of the device main unit in which the energy setting is enabled.2. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controllerdisplays on the display an energy setup showing a plurality of energysettings of the device main unit.
 3. The electronic device as set forthin claim 2, wherein when one of the plurality of the energy settings isselected, the controller displays both the energy setup showing theselected energy setting and the visual demonstration.
 4. The electronicdevice as set forth in claim 3, wherein the controller displays theenergy setup showing the selected energy setting to overlap with thevisual demonstration.
 5. The electronic device as set forth in claim 3,wherein the controller displays the energy setup showing the selectedenergy setting on an upper side of the display.
 6. The electronic deviceas set forth in claim 3, wherein an area on the display where the visualdemonstration is displayed is larger than an area on the display wherethe energy setup showing the selected energy setting is displayed. 7.The electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the energy setupshowing the selected energy setting further shows: a name of theselected energy setting, and at least one of: an on/off state of whetherthe selected energy setting is enabled, electric power to be consumed inthe on/off state, and cost of the electric power.
 8. The electronicdevice as set forth in claim 2, wherein the energy setup shows any of: aliquid crystal display (LCD) setting of the device main unit, anantenna-through output setting, an attenuator power setting, a quickstart setting, and an optical disk operation setting.
 9. The electronicdevice as set forth in claim 8, wherein when the LCD setting is selectedfrom the energy setup and is set to on, the controller displays a stateof the device main unit in which the LCD displays information.
 10. Theelectronic device as set forth in claim 9, wherein when the LCD settingis selected from the energy setup and is set to off, the controllerdisplays a state of the device main unit in which the LCD is turned off.11. The electronic device as set forth in claim 8, wherein when theantenna-through output setting is selected from the energy setup and isset to on, the controller displays a state of the device main unit inwhich video of a TV broadcast is displayed.
 12. The electronic device asset forth in claim 11, wherein when the antenna-through output settingis selected from the energy setup and is set to off, the controllerdisplays a state of the device main unit in which the video is notdisplayed.
 13. The electronic device as set forth in claim 8, whereinwhen the attenuator power setting is selected from the energy setup andis set to on, the controller displays a state of the device main unit inwhich video of a TV broadcast is displayed in clear focus.
 14. Theelectronic device as set forth in claim 13, wherein when the attenuatorpower setting is selected from the energy setup and is set to off, thecontroller displays a state of the device main unit in which the videois not displayed in clear focus.
 15. The electronic device as set forthin claim 8, wherein when the attenuator power setting is selected fromthe energy conservation setup, the controller displays an electric fieldstrength on the display.
 16. The electronic device as set forth in claim8, wherein when the quick start setting is selected from the energyconservation setup, the controller simultaneously displays both: a firstmovie showing a start-up sequence of the electronic device when thequick start setting is enabled, and a second movie showing the start-upsequence when the quick start setting is disabled.
 17. The electronicdevice as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller displays anindicator indicating that the visual demonstration is being displayed.18. The electronic device as set forth in claim 4, wherein thecontroller displays the energy setup showing the selected energy settingon an upper side of the display.
 19. The electronic device as set forthin claim 4, wherein an area on the display where the visualdemonstration is displayed is larger than an area on the display wherethe energy setup showing the selected energy setting is displayed. 20.The electronic device as set forth in claim 18, wherein an area on thedisplay where the visual demonstration is displayed is larger than anarea on the display where the energy setup showing the selected energysetting is displayed.